Written by Associated Press and James Gordon Dailymail.com
April 29, 2024 06:30, updated April 29, 2024 07:18
- Minneapolis City Council approves $150,000 settlement for Donald Williams
- Williams, a martial artist, sued the city, claiming he was assaulted by police.
- Williams testified against Derek Chauvin in high-profile trial
The Minneapolis City Council has agreed to pay a $150,000 settlement to a witness who tried to intervene in George Floyd's murder and claimed to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result.
Donald Williams, a mixed martial arts fighter who testified against former Officer Derek Chauvin in his 2021 murder trial, was accused last spring of being assaulted by police while trying to prevent Floyd's death on May 25, 2020. , sued the city.
The council unanimously approved the settlement without discussion, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
Chauvin looked directly at Williams, grabbed a canister of chemical spray and began waving it at Williams and other bystanders concerned for Floyd's safety, according to the complaint.
In the video played at Chauvin's trial, Williams can be heard urging Chauvin to get off Floyd and calling the officer a “shithole.”
According to the complaint, former officer Tou Thao walked up to Williams and put his hand on her chest.
Williams told the jury at Chauvin's trial that the officer performed what the mixed martial arts fighter called a “blood choking” that restricted Floyd's circulation.
During his direct examination of Chauvin's trial, Williams said, “While he was on top, the top officer was shaking and trying to actually put in the final choke, the kill choke.'' told Assistant State Attorney Matthew Frank.
Williams said he watched as Floyd “disappeared like a fish in a bag.”
He said, “I see his eyes slowly turning pale, and he knew it… He said it out loud, his eyes rolling to the back of his head, I saw blood coming from his nose, and he said his stomach hurt, and since then, he had stopped breathing. he didn't speak. ”
Based on his own experience, Williams said what he witnessed was a “kill choke” that cut off circulation to Floyd's neck.
As a result of the officers' actions, Williams claims in her lawsuit that she feared for her safety and endured pain, suffering, humiliation, embarrassment and medical bills as a result of witnessing the incident.
Floyd, a black man, died on May 25, 2020, when Chauvin, who is white, knelt on his neck for nine and a half minutes as he tried to hand him a counterfeit $20 bill outside a convenience store.
Bystander video captured Floyd's fading cries of “I can't breathe.”
Mr. Floyd's death sparked protests around the world and forced a national reckoning over police brutality and racism.
Chauvin was convicted of state murder in Floyd's death and sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison.
He also pleaded guilty to separate federal charges related to violating Floyd's civil rights.
Mr. Thao and two other former police officers involved are serving shorter sentences.
